Portable seating apparatus

ABSTRACT

Portable seating apparatus is provided for suspension between spaced apart uprights such as trees. The seating apparatus is of flexible material and has a seat portion and a backrest portion which are suspended from the uprights by means of tension elements extending outwardly from the upper margin of the backrest and from the bottom of the seat to engage around the uprights. The backrest tension element is secured around the uprights at a location above the place of attachment of the seat tension elements to dispose the backrest in an upright position in use. Means is provided to releasably fasten the backrest in a position folded over the seat, and flap means is provided on the lower portion of the backrest to fold over the side edges of the apparatus for containing the tension elements when the apparatus is folded. A carrying strap is provided on the backrest to enable the seating apparatus to be transported readily in its folded configuration; and pouch means is provided on the reverse side of the backrest for storing articles.

United States Patent Gulba [54] PORTABLE SEATING APPARATUS [72] Inventor: Francis S. Gulba, 1405 Oakmont Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 191 11 [22] Filed: .Ian. 12, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 105,796

[52] US. Cl. ..297/191, 297/217, 190/8 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47g 7/62 [58] Field of Search ..297/273, 217, 441, 257, 279,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 330,705 11/1885 Hook ..297/279 636,669 11/1899 Jesseman ..297/279 1,248,838 12/1917 Foster ..5/123 X 1,098,293 5/1914 Palmer ..5/124 2,429,763 10/ 1947 Lindabury ..297/17 1,479,903 1/1924 Erland ..224/9 X 2,556,076 6/1951 Evans et a1 ..297/248 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 171,918 8/1905 Germany ..5/150 [4 Oct. 24, 1972 Primary Examiner-James T. McCall Attorney-Howson & Howson [5 7] ABSTRACT Portable seating apparatus is provided for suspension between spaced apart uprights such as trees. The seating apparatus is of flexible material and has a seat portion and a backrest portion which are suspended from the uprights by means of tension elements extending outwardly from the upper margin of the backrest and from the bottom of the seat to engage around the uprights. The backrest tension element is secured around the uprights at a location above the place of attachment of the seat tension elements to dispose the backrest in an upright position in use. Means is provided to releasably fasten the backrest in a position folded over the seat, and flap meansis provided on the lower portion of the backrest to fold over the side edges of the apparatus for containing the tension elements when the apparatus is folded. A carrying strap is provided on the backrest to enable the seating apparatus to be transported readily in its folded configuration; and pouch means is provided on the reverse side of the backrest for storing articles.

8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures.

Patented Get. 24, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGZ.

I. :l lli INVINTOI: FRANCIS s. GULBA ATTYS PORTABLE SEATING APPARATUS The present application is directed to the subject matter disclosed in my Disclosure Document No. 003299, filed Oct. 26, I970.

The present invention relates to portable seats; and more particularly, the present invention relates to portable seats which are adapted to be fastened to upright objects.

Portable seats have been proposed for releasable attachments to uprights such as trees. Examples of this type of seat are disclosed in Pat. Nos. 305,100; 2,549,679; 2,847,059; 2,991,842; 3,340,828; and 3,352,379. In each of these patented seats, the seat is attached to a single tree and the back of the person using the seat is disposed alongside the tree trunk. Although providing suitable body-supports, all but the first-mentioned patented seat are of limited comfort because of the absence of suitable backrests; and, the one seat which does possess a backrest is of complex wooden-slat construction. Moreover, none of the prior art seats are as lightweight and economical to manufacture as desired;'and, only the last-mentioned patented structure possesses utility in addition to use as a seat.

With the foregoing in mind, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a portable seat which is of relatively simple and durable construction and which may be manufactured economically.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable seat which is lightweight and which may be folded into a compact configuration for transportation or for use as a cushion.

As another object, the present invention provides a portable seat which possesses utility as a chest-support or harness for enabling a sportsman readily to transport big game from the location in which it is killed.

More specifically, the present invention provides portable seating apparatus for suspension between spaced apart uprights such as trees. The apparatus is of fabric construction and comprises a seat portion and a backrest portion hinged together, with the backrest adapted. to be angulated with respect to the seat. Tension elements extend outwardly from the upper margin of the backrest and from spaced locations on the seat, with the backrest tension elements being fastened around the uprights at a location above the seat tension elements so as to dispose the backrest in an upright position. The seating apparatus is rectangular when the seat and backrest are disposed coplanar; and the backrest is sized so as to fold over the seat. Means is provided to releasably fasten the backrest to the seat in the folded configuration; and a carrying strap is provided on the backrest for transporting the apparatus. In addition, flap means is provided for folding around the side edges of the apparatus to contain the tension elements, and pouch means is provided on the reverse side of the backrest for storing articles.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of portable seating apparatus embodying the present invention, the view illustrating the apparatus suspended between trees by tension elements;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the seating apparatus of the present invention in its folded configuration and with portions broken away to expose the tension elements contained therein;

FIG. 3 is a plan view with portions broken away of the obverse, or body-engaging side of the seating apparatusand with the seat and backrest being disposed coplanar;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but of the reverse side of the seating apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1 and illustrating the backrest of the apparatus disposed at substantially a right angle with respect to the seat portion thereof;

FIG. 6 is an enlargedv fragmentary view of the area delineated by broken lines in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of another area delineated by broken lines in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 portable seating apparatus 10 embodying the present invention. As illustrated therein, the apparatus 10 comprises a horizontally disposed seat member 11 and a vertically disposed backrest. member 12 and pairs of tension elements l3, l4, and 15 extending outwardly in opposite directions from the seat and backrest members for fastening around spaced apart uprights, which in the present instance are trees 1.6 and 17. In the illustrated embodiment, the backrest tension elements 13 are fastened around the trees 16 and 17 at a location which is spaced from the ground a greater distance than the location at which the seat tension elements 14 and 15 are fastened. Thus, the seat member 11 may be fastened at any desired location above ground level and the backrest member 12 properly angulated in an upright position with respect thereto when the tension elements 13, 14 and 15 are fastened around the trees 16 and 17, substantially shown in FIG. 1.

The seating apparatus of the present invention may be folded into the configuration illustrated in FIG. 2 for transportation. To this end, the seat and backrest mem bers are of one-piece fabric construction with the fabric providing an integral hinged connection 19 along the line of juncture of the seat member 11 and the backrest member 12. Preferably, the seating apparatus 10 has a width of substantially 15 inches and an overall length measured between the tension elements 13 and 15 of substantially 30 inches; and the hinged connection 19 is located at approximately one-third of the distance between the seat tension elements 15 and the backrest tension elements 13. With this structure, the seat member 11 may be folded leftward on the broken line indicated at A in FIG. 3; and the backrest member 12 may be folded rightward on. the broken line indicated at B in FIG. 3 to cause its obverse side to engage the folded underside of the seat member 11. The members are secured in their folded positions by means of mating snap fasteners 20,20 and 21,21 which are located adjacent the hinged connection 19 on the seat member 11 and in the upper margin of the backrest member 12, respectively.

In order to securely contain the tension elements 13, 14 and 15 inside the seating apparatus 10 during transportation as illustrated in FIG. 2, flap means is provided on the backrest member 12 adjacent the hinged connection 19. As may be seen in FIG. 3 and 4, the flap means includes flaps 25,25 extending laterally outward in opposite directions from the backrest l2; and each flap 25 mounts snap fasteners 26,26 in its outermost margin for engaging mating fasteners 27,27 on the backrest member 12. Thus, the tension elements 13, 14 and 15 are securely contained within the folded apparatus when the members 11 and 12 are folded as described above and the flaps 25,25 are folded around the side edges of the members and the snap fasteners 26 and 27 are engaged with one another.

The seating apparatus 10 is of strong but lightweight construction. To this end, the tension elements 13, 14 and are continuous lengths of cord or rope; and as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tension elements 13 and 15 are retained in transverse hems 30 and 31 which extend in the widthwise margins of the backrest and set members 12 and 11, respectively. The tension element 14 is also retained in a transverse hem which extends along the fold line A and which is formed by a narrow strip of fabric 32 sewn along the juncture of the seat and backrest members. In the illustrated embodiment, the seating structure 10 is reinforced by welting cords 35,35 which extend in the lengthwise hems 36,36 along the edges of the backrest member 12 and seat member 11 (FIG. 3). In fabricating the seating structure 10, the lengthwise hems 36,36 are sewn prior to the transverse or widthwise hems 30 and 31 in order to dispose the welting cords 35,35 around the tension elements 13 and 15 in the transverse hems 30 and 31. (See FIGS. 6 and 7). Thus, when the transverse hems 30 and 31 are stitched, the welting cords 35,35 are secured firmly in place to reinforce the seating structure. As may be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, short welting cords 37,37 are sewn in transversely folded margins 32a,32a of the fabric strip 32 before the strip 32 is sewn in place. In this manner, the mounting of the tension element 14 in the seating structure 10 is reinforced.

In order to enable the seating structure 10 to be carried, a carrying strap 40 is provided. As may be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the carrying strap 40 is sewn to the reverse side of the backrest member 12 substantially midway between the fold line A and the tension element 13. Thus, when the seating structure 10 is folded as illustrated in FIG. 2, the carrying strap 40 provides convenient means by which the structure may be handcarried or carried over one shoulder.

For the purpose of providing the seating structure with additional utility, pouch means 45 is provided on the reverse side of the backrest 12. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the pouch means 45 is located intermediate the hinged connection 19 and the carrying strap 40; and the pouch means 45 has an open end adjacent the carrying strap 40. The open end is covered by means of a flap 46 which is releasably secured to the pouch 45 by means of snap fasteners 47,47. Thus, when the seating structure 10 is folded into its transportation configuration, the open end of the pouch 45 is disposed upwardly for securely containing outdoor paraphernalia, such as binoculars, or the like.

Preferably, the seating structure is fabricated of 10 to 14 02. cotton drill fabric and the fabric is a bright orange color so as to increase the visibility of the seating structure when in use as a seat or when carried.

Color variation, however, is optional. The tension cords are preferably l5 feet long and one-half inch in diameter and are of polypropylene material to provide strong, lightweight seat-mounting elements; however if desired, conventional hemp ropes may be employed satisfactorily. As noted heretofore, the structure is preferably 15 inches wide; however, greater or lesser widths may be preferred depending upon the physique of the person using the apparatus.

In use, the seating structure 10 is transported in its folded configuration illustrated in FIG. 2 to the place of its intended use where trees having diameters in a range of substantially 12 to 16 inches and spaced apart in a range of substantially 3 to 7 feet are selected. The snap fasteners 20, 21, 26, and 27 are disengaged; the seating structure 10 is unfolded; and the tension elements 13, 14, and 15 are uncoiled. The left one of the seat tension elements 15 is wrapped clockwise (FIG. 1) around the left-hand tree, and the right one of the tension elements 15 is wrapped counter-clockwise around the right-hand tree 16 at an elevation which is comfortable for the person intending to use the seat. The other seat tension elements 14 are wrapped oppositely to the elements 15 and are tied at substantially the same elevation. The backrest tension elements 13 are wrapped in the same manner as the seat tension elements 14; and, they are then tied at an elevation above both the seat elements 14 and 15. Thus, the seating structure 10 is suspended between the trees 16 and 17.

The location of the seat structure 10 on the tension elements may be varied by sliding the seat structure 10 thereon; and if desired, more than one seat structure may be threaded onto the tension elements to provide additional seating capacity.

It is to be noted that if it is desired to suspend the seating structure between smaller trees, a pair of trees located forwardly of the pair 16 and 17 would be selected with the tension elements 13 and 14 each being fastened around the rear trees 16 and 17 and the tension elements 15 extending forwardly and being fastened around the front pair of trees. Also the seat structure may be fastened to tree limbs at desired height up in the tree itself.

The seating structure 10 possesses utility in addition to use as a seat. For instance, in its folded configuration (FIG. 2) it may be used as a cushion to enable a person to comfortably sit on hard objects such as logs, rocks, or the like. Moreover, the tension cords may be fastened around big game such as a deer or bear and the folded structure engaged against a hunters chest to provide a harness for enabling the hunter to transport the game from the location in which it is killed.

In view of the foregoing,'it should be apparent that the present invention provides portable seating structure for use by outdoorsmen in forested locatings. While a preferred embodiment of the seating structure has been described in detail, various modifications, alterations, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. Portable folding seat apparatus for suspending between spaced-apart uprights, comprising;

a seat member of flexible material,

a backrest member of flexible material,

said flexible material of said members being continuous and providing a hinged connection between said members to permit said members to angulate with respect to one another,

a first pair of tension elements extending outwardly in opposite directions from an upper portion of said backrest member for engaging around said uprights,

a second pair of tension elements extending outwardly in opposite directions from said seat member a spaced distance from said hinged connection for engaging around said uprights at a location below the place of engagement of said first pair of tension members,

a third pair of tension elements extending outwardly in opposite directions from adjacent said hinged connection for engaging around said uprights in substantially the same location as said second pair of tension elements,

said seating apparatus having a rectangular configuration with a predetermined lengthwise dimension when said members are disposed coplanar, said hinged connection extending widthwise and being located at substantially one third of said lengthwise dimension so as to permit the obverse side of said seat member to be folded onto the obverse side of said backrest member adjacent said hinged connection and the obverse side of said backrest member remote from said hinged connection to be folded onto the reverse side of said seat member, and including flap means extending laterally out ward in opposite directions from said backrest for folding onto the reverse side of said backrest when said backrest is folded over said seat member and releasable fasteners mounted on said flap means and said backrest member and cooperable to secure said flap means to the reverse side of said backrest for defining a substantially enclosed pocket for containing said tension elements when said seating apparatus is in its folded configuration,

whereby a seat is provided when the apparatus is unfolded and the tension elements are fastened around the uprights.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said tension elements includes a continuous cord of a predetermined length and including means to mount said cords to said members.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 whereinsaid cord mounting means includes a transverse hem extending along the upper portion of said backrest member remote from said hinged connection and another transverse hem extending along said seat member remote from said hinged connection.

4. Apparatusaccording to claim 3 including longitudinal hems extending along the lengthwise edges of said seating apparatus and welting fastened in said longitudinal hems and surrounding said cords to reinforce the mounting of said cords to said members.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 including releasable fastening means located on the underside of said seat member adjacent said hinged connection and cooperable with mating fastening means located on said backrest member remote from said hinged connection to maintain said backrest member in said foldedover confi uration for rans orta ion 6. Appa ratus according 0 claim 3 including means providing a carrying strap mounted to said backrest member intermediate said hinged connection and said transverse backrest hem to permit said seating apparatus to be transported when said members are in their folded-over positions.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 including means providing a storage pouch on the reverse side of said backrest member intermediate said hinged connection and said carrying strap, said storage pouch means having an opening adjacent said carrying strap and a cover flap releasably secured across said opening.

8. Seating apparatus comprising: a pair of spaced uprights, seating members disposed between said uprights including an upright backrest and a seat,

means providing a hinged connection between said seat and said backrest, three pairs of tension elements extending outwardly from said seating members for suspending said members between said uprights, a first pair of said tension elements extending outwardly from an upper portion of said backrest and tied around said uprights at a first location, a second pair of said tension elements extending outwardly from said hinged connection and tied around said uprights at a second location below said first location, a third pair of said tension elements extending outwardly from a front portion of said seat and tied around said uprights at substantially the same location as said second pair of elements, whereby stable seating apparatus is provided. 

1. Portable folding seat apparatus for suspending between spaced-apart uprights, comprising; a seat member of flexible material, a backrest member of flexible material, said flexible material of said members being continuous and providing a hinged connection between said members to permit said members to angulate with respect to one another, a first pair of tension elements extending outwardly in opposite directions from an upper portion of said backrest member for engaging around said uprights, a second pair of tension elements extending outwardly in opposite directions from said seat member a spaced distance from said hinged connection for engaging around said uprights at a location below the place of engagement of said first pair of tension members, a third pair of tension elements extending outwardly in opposite directions from adjacent sAid hinged connection for engaging around said uprights in substantially the same location as said second pair of tension elements, said seating apparatus having a rectangular configuration with a predetermined lengthwise dimension when said members are disposed coplanar, said hinged connection extending widthwise and being located at substantially one third of said lengthwise dimension so as to permit the obverse side of said seat member to be folded onto the obverse side of said backrest member adjacent said hinged connection and the obverse side of said backrest member remote from said hinged connection to be folded onto the reverse side of said seat member, and including flap means extending laterally outward in opposite directions from said backrest for folding onto the reverse side of said backrest when said backrest is folded over said seat member and releasable fasteners mounted on said flap means and said backrest member and cooperable to secure said flap means to the reverse side of said backrest for defining a substantially enclosed pocket for containing said tension elements when said seating apparatus is in its folded configuration, whereby a seat is provided when the apparatus is unfolded and the tension elements are fastened around the uprights.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said tension elements includes a continuous cord of a predetermined length and including means to mount said cords to said members.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said cord mounting means includes a transverse hem extending along the upper portion of said backrest member remote from said hinged connection and another transverse hem extending along said seat member remote from said hinged connection.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 including longitudinal hems extending along the lengthwise edges of said seating apparatus and welting fastened in said longitudinal hems and surrounding said cords to reinforce the mounting of said cords to said members.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 3 including releasable fastening means located on the underside of said seat member adjacent said hinged connection and cooperable with mating fastening means located on said backrest member remote from said hinged connection to maintain said backrest member in said folded-over configuration for transportation.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 3 including means providing a carrying strap mounted to said backrest member intermediate said hinged connection and said transverse backrest hem to permit said seating apparatus to be transported when said members are in their folded-over positions.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 including means providing a storage pouch on the reverse side of said backrest member intermediate said hinged connection and said carrying strap, said storage pouch means having an opening adjacent said carrying strap and a cover flap releasably secured across said opening.
 8. Seating apparatus comprising: a pair of spaced uprights, seating members disposed between said uprights including an upright backrest and a seat, means providing a hinged connection between said seat and said backrest, three pairs of tension elements extending outwardly from said seating members for suspending said members between said uprights, a first pair of said tension elements extending outwardly from an upper portion of said backrest and tied around said uprights at a first location, a second pair of said tension elements extending outwardly from said hinged connection and tied around said uprights at a second location below said first location, a third pair of said tension elements extending outwardly from a front portion of said seat and tied around said uprights at substantially the same location as said second pair of elements, whereby stable seating apparatus is provided. 